The American Mind Podcast

The landscape of battle in the last decade has drastically shifted in favor of drone warfare. In Iran and Ukraine, inexpensive drones hammer against expensive missile interceptors. If the U.S. wants to retain its advantage, this equation needs to change. This week, American Military Project director Will Thibeau discusses how U.S. policy and industry will have to adjust to prepare for the future of war. Plus: the implications of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, NATO deficiencies, and more.

In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV addressed the prospects of AI, warning against the enduring perils of Babel. Does he have a good alternative, or just an array of managerial, transnational solutions? This week, the guys consider the first American pontiff's doctrinal approach to AI and what it means for America. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio's star rises to Kissinger-esque heights as he takes on the dual position of national security advisor and secretary of state amid the Iran War. Who might succeed Trump on the 2028 ticket—Rubio or Vance?

Recommended:

Magnifica Humanitas, by Pope Leo XIV

Can Anyone Stop JD Vance in 2028?

The Rediscovery of America, edited by Edward J. Erler and Ken Masugi

A just-released Pew Research poll revealed that a majority of Americans are concerned about the exploits of Artificial Intelligence. Just 10 percent are excited about the technology’s increased use. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt discovered this when he was loudly booed during the University of Arizona’s commencement ceremony. Is this recent backlash a grassroots protest against tone deaf corporate messaging, the fruit of a Chinese psyop, or both? Spencer Klavan and Ryan Williams discuss.

Associate Dean of Hillsdale’s graduate school of government Matthew Mehan joins the guys to discuss his latest work, The American Book of Fables. It’s a richly illustrated tour through the nation’s wonders, celebrating America in thirteen tales for the whole family. Then, updates from the midterms: Trump endorses Ken Paxton against John Cornyn in the Republican Senate primary in Texas, Kentucky representative Thomas Massie faces off with Trump pick Ed Gallrein, and more!

Recommended:

The American Book of Fables

What Conservatives Believe

The Odyssey: Homer’s epic tale of a man’s harrowing return home from war. Today, the object of gender-critical, woke narrative extremes in translator Emily Wilson’s rendition—and potentially in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation. Spencer Klavan and Ryan Williams discuss the rumors and reports about the summer film's casting: Zendaya as Athena, Lupita Nyong'o as Helen, Travis Scott as the poet Demodocus, and possibly Elliot Page (formerly Ellen Page) as Achilles. Will Nolan somehow pull it all together, or deliver a steaming pile of Woke?

Spencer Pratt, formerly a reality television star on MTV’s The Hills, has entered Los Angeles’s mayoral race as a Republican to challenge incumbent Karen Bass. His campaign’s satirical ads depict opponents as movie villains, yet his more serious pitch addresses the real issues concerning Angelenos: homelessness, drugs, and corruption. Whether this quasi-Trumpian strategy wins their vote remains to be seen come June. Meanwhile, the war in Iran persists. Victory remains elusive and gas prices high. What is the direction of the war effort? Will Trump back out? The guys monitor the situation.

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Boots-on-the-ground is Trump’s best option

Watch with video on Youtube

As institutes of higher learning lose public trust, a Yale committee has issued several recommendations for greater "openness." In response, the university has trimmed down its mission statement to remove hints of activism and focus on efforts to “create, disseminate, and preserve knowledge.” As the reputations of legacy institutions slump, renegade academies have risen to upset the status quo. Ryan Williams and Spencer Klavan discuss the prospects for these new upstart institutions: Will they spark a wider revival of the traditional academy, or transfer established prestige?

In a historic ruling, the Supreme Court has effectively declared it unconstitutional for legislatures to gerrymander based on race. This week, the guys unravel the convoluted history of how we got to Louisiana v. Callais—from the Civil War and the 15th amendment, through reconstruction, the Voting Rights Act in both its 1965 and 1982 versions. How will the Left respond with racial districting off the table as midterms and 2028 approach? What is the future of the Voting Rights Act? All this and more as The Roundtable's original hour-long length is RESTORED for a deep dive.

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Is Hasan Piker the Face of the American Left?

Justice Alito Cleans the Augean Stable of Faux Voting Rights Precedents

Watch with video on Youtube

In a new Gallup poll, the number of young men who consider religion “very important” rose dramatically (up 14 percent to 42, from 28 in 2022), reversing a decades-long trend. Host Spencer Klavan and Claremont president Ryan Williams contemplate the implications for America's civic health: the reconciliation of science and faith, a potential uptick in marriages and families, and the potential restoration of something like a civic theology. But what kind of theology is needed to sustain America's way of life—and what kinds of theologies won't help? The guys discuss. 

Over the weekend, a California man bolted past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, wielding two firearms and a knife. The suspect was operating under a dangerous and widespread notion that Trump is an intolerable “traitor” deserving death. Meanwhile, far-Left streamer Hasan Piker goes mainstream, raising the question whether Democrat moderates have any room to lead their party out of the abyss. This week, the guys discuss the probable causes for the rise in political violence, including mental gymnastics employed by Piker and others to justify bloodshed.

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‘The Rich Don’t Play by the Rules. So Why Should I?’

Days of Rage

Watch with video on Youtube